JAMMU, JANUARY 13, 2021: Bhagwani Mela (District level) was today held at Mananu Panchayat of Samba in which over 200 farmers hailing from all the zones of the district participated and exhibited their fruit crops.

Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Savak, was the chief guest, while other guests included District Development Council member Kartar Chand , BDC chairman, Nud Dev Raj, Sarpanch Sunil Choudhary, panchs and other respected citizens of the area.

In the camp, besides fruit exhibits grown in the area, canning products and the farm machinery were also demonstrated to the common people so that they can make their accessibility more easily. Different private companies displayed their agriculture related products at the venue.

In his address, the Director explained the farmers about the increased incentive of the strawberry and High Density plantation. he also stressed them to come forward for planting high commercial crops such as pomegranate, grapes, papaya etc. for which a good incentive is being given to popularize these crops to be grown as demonstration plot. He advised the women farmers to avail incentives under different schemes for setting up of small fruit and vegetable processing units by forming Self Help Groups to become self reliant.

He also informed the gathering about the importance of sale cum facilitation centre opened up in the Jammu Division for the availability of high quality planting material and value added products. He also emphasized that the centers will serve as common platform for the farmers to demonstrate and sell their products.

Chief Horticulture Officer, Samba, Anil Gorka informed the farmers and fruit growers about the different schemes of the department and asked them to come forward for availing the benefits of these schemes.

Deputy Director Horticulture, Shafiqa Khalid, Co-ordinator KVK, Dr. Vinod Gupta and other Officers were also present during the event.